Fighting Hawks move up to No. 7 in latest polls

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (UND Athletics)– After the 31-7 win over Northern Iowa, North Dakota moved up to No. 7 in both the latest Stats Perform Poll and AFCA Coaches’ Top 25 Poll.

The MVFC has five teams represented in the Stats Perform Poll. North Dakota State has climbed into the top-spot, while South Dakota State slipped to No. 3. South Dakota remains No. 4 and North Dakota moved up two spots to No. 7. Illinois State rounds out the poll for the conference at No. 21.

In the AFCA Coaches’ Top 25, the league has six teams ranked. The Bison moved up to No. 1, while the Jackrabbits dropped to No. 3 and the Coyotes remain No. 4. The Fighting Hawks are also in the top-10 at No. 7. The Bears (No. 18) and Redbirds (No. 20) are also in the top-20.

No. 7 North Dakota will visit Youngstown State at 5 p.m. (CT) on Saturday. The game will be televised on Midco Sports Two and carried on the Fighting Hawks Radio Network.

STATS PERFORM FCS TOP 25 (Oct. 21)
1. North Dakota State (7-1, 4-0 MVFC), 1,384 points (40 of 56 first-place votes)
2. Montana State (8-0, 4-0 Big Sky), 1,351 (16)
3. South Dakota State (5-2, 2-1 MVFC), 1,286
4. South Dakota (6-1, 4-0 MVFC), 1,237
5. UC Davis (7-1, 4-0 Big Sky), 1,172
6. Southeast Missouri (7-1, 4-0 Big South-OVC), 1,074
7. North Dakota (5-2, 2-1 MVFC), 1,006
8. Tarleton State (6-1, 3-0 UAC), 929
9. Montana (5-2, 2-1 Big Sky), 854
10. Incarnate Word (5-2, 2-0 Southland), 826
11. Idaho (5-3, 2-2 Big Sky), 809
12. Central Arkansas (5-2, 2-1 UAC), 785
13. Villanova (5-2, 2-1 CAA), 736
14. Mercer (6-1, 3-1 SoCon), 708
15. Rhode Island (6-1, 3-0 CAA), 637
16. William & Mary (5-2, 3-1 CAA), 558
17. Abilene Christian (5-3, 4-1 UAC), 518
18. Richmond (5-2, 3-0 CAA), 512
19. Chattanooga (4-3, 3-1 SoCon), 395
20. North Carolina Central (5-2, 2-0 MEAC), 237
21. Illinois State (5-3, 2-2 MVFC), 199
22. Dartmouth (5-0, 3-0 Ivy), 184
23. ETSU (4-3, 2-1 SoCon), 142
24. Western Carolina (4-3, 3-0 SoCon), 124
25. Tennessee State (6-2, 3-1 Big South-OVC), 103

Others Receiving Votes: UT Martin (4-3, 2-1 Big South-OVC), 82; Stony Brook (5-2, 2-1 CAA), 69; Duquesne (4-2, 2-0 NEC), 39; Sacramento State (3-4, 1-2 Big Sky), 36; Harvard (4-1, 1-1 Ivy), 32; Monmouth (4-3, 2-1 CAA), 30; Jackson State (5-2, 3-0 SWAC), 29; Northern Arizona (4-4, 2-2 Big Sky), 28; Southeastern Louisiana (4-4, 3-0 Southland), 18; Drake (5-1, 4-0 Pioneer), 14; New Hampshire (4-3, 2-1 CAA), 12; Florida A&M (3-3, 1-1 SWAC), 6; Dayton (5-1, 3-0 Pioneer), 5; Samford (3-3, 2-1 SoCon), 5; Lamar (4-3, 1-1 Southland), 4; Maine (4-3, 2-2 CAA), 2.

AFCA FCS Coaches TOP 25 (Oct. 21)
1. North Dakota State (24)
2. Montana State (2)
3. South Dakota State
4. South Dakota
5. UC Davis
6. Southeast Missouri State
7. North Dakota
8. Tarleton State
9. Montana
10. Central Arkansas
11. Incarnate Word
12. Idaho
13. Richmond
14. Villanova
15. William & Mary
16. Rhode Island
17. Mercer
18. Missouri State
19. Abilene Christian
20. Illinois State
21. North Carolina Central
22. Dartmouth
23. Jackson State
24. Stony Brook
25. Chattanooga

Others Receiving Votes: Duquesne, 37; New Hampshire, 22; East Tennessee St., 18; UT Martin, 18; Western Carolina, 18; Florida A&M, 15; Monmouth (N.J.), 15; Tennessee St., 13; Sacramento St., 10; Harvard, 8; Drake, 7; Columbia, 5; Lafayette, 4; Robert Morris, 4; Lamar, 3; Butler, 2; Northern Arizona, 2; Samford, 2; Southeastern Louisiana, 1.